VALDOSTA—The third ranked Valdosta State Lady Blazers posted two impressive wins on Wednesday night as they defeated the Albany State Golden Rams 8-0 and 11-0 behind strong offensive bats and great pitching.
“We have actually been slumping as a team,” Thomas Macera, VSU head coach, said. “That is what we talked about and worked on yesterday. I am just happy to see them starting to hit again because the last three weeks have been pretty bad.”
Valdosta State (34-5) saw substantial offensive support from Melessa Jackson and Stephanie Carlson, both of whom recorded two homeruns on the day, while Marti Littlefield and Morgan Johnson both recorded one homerun each.
“We just had several players who hadn’t been hitting the ball step up,” Macera said. “They are just starting to see the ball a little better. Even the best in the world slump at times. We really haven’t peaked yet this year as a team.”
Jackson’s first homerun came in the bottom of the fourth inning of game one, as the Lady Blazers led just 1-0. Jackson’s homerun double the ladies’ lead and make it 2-0, VSU.
Marti Littlefield recorded her 13th homerun of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning as VSU extended their lead to 4-0 over the Golden Rams.
After a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth, all of which were recorded by third baseman Courtney Merritt, Valdosta State ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as Carlson’s first homerun of the day, a three-run homerun over the left field fence, took the ladies’ lead to 8-0.
Melessa Jackson sparked Valdosta States offensive surge in game two, as she pelted a grand slam over the right center field fence in the ladies’ six-run second inning.
Carlson added her second homerun of the night in the bottom of the third inning as the ladies sparked for four runs in that inning to take an 11-0 lead.
On the night Melessa Jackson, who has hit four homeruns in six days, finished with five RBIs and three runs scored as she was 2-4 at the plate.
“Yeah I mean she is only hitting like .222,” Macera said. “She has been struggling all year but again if she starts hitting now, who cares about the rest of them.”
Stephanie Carlson finished the two games 5-7 at the plate with three runs scored and seven RBI’s.
In the circle for VSU, Margaret Carter and Holly Satterfield combined for 18 strikeouts, 10 from Carter, and allowed just three hits and walked only one.
“They have been pitching well,” Macera said. “I think we have had two games all year where we didn’t pitch well, but it is good to see that.”
The Lady Blazers will host West Georgia on Saturday for Senior Day and No. 12 Alabama-Huntsville on Sunday.
“Sunday is huge because it has implications of the conference tournament and the region tournament,” Macera said. “If we sweep, we are number one in the region, which means we host, and if we lose, we are number two in the region and we’re on the road.”
The games on Sunday are part of the Pack the Park event, so fans are encouraged to break the attendance record at the softball complex.